Gill and Brkic went into the event second in the JWRC standings and had a huge chance to win the much-coveted title at the rally.
The treacherous roads had plenty to say in the final outcome, though, as they wreaked havoc on not only the Australians but the entire series field.
A promising Friday by the duo had them sitting pretty within a mere 25 seconds of the rally lead, but a puncture on the day’s last stage dropped them from third to fifth.
Like in Finland in the previous round, the mature pairing recovered back to the podium placings by the middle of the following day before more trouble hit.
In the afternoon loop of Saturday’s rocky stages, the extremely rough conditions damaged a rear control arm on their Ford Fiesta Rally3, and they were forced to crawl through the last two stages.
As a result, they lost a huge amount of time, and with it, their realistic chances of championship victory.
“We went into the weekend with a goal of staying consistent and making sure we made as few mistakes as possible,” Gill said of his approach to what was described as one of the roughest Acropolis Rally in memory.
“Throughout Friday we were driving at a comfortable speed, but unfortunately the puncture set us back. Then, on Saturday, our issue appeared, and the time loss was gradual.
“The rough roads damaged the rear of the car, and we simply had to nurse it through. Initially, the rear control arm was bent, however, it eventually broke completely as we made it to the end of the day.
“It was a tough pill to swallow, but we understand that in an event like this, these problems can come from nowhere.
“Regardless of the final outcome, we’re very proud of our efforts this season and can hold our heads high knowing we gave ourselves the best possible chance at championship victory in the last round.”
Gill’s FIA Rally Star teammate, Romet Jurgenson, avoided trouble to take second place in the rally and with it, the championship title.
“Romet has been a fantastic teammate and competitor all season, and he’s very deserving of the title,” Gill said.
“He’s a terrific friend and he’s had a great season this year. I wish him and Siim Oja (his co-driver) the best of luck when they move up next season.
Despite missing the ultimate goal, co-driver, Dan Brkic, was quick to put the Aussies’ season into perspective.
He said that their first season in the World Rally Championship was a whirlwind and one that will hold them in good stead moving forward in their careers.
“It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves, but we must remember that Rally Sweden at the start of the season was our first rally in the WRC,” Brkic said.
“To begin there and progress the way we have is a credit to Taylor, the FIA Rally Star program and our entire support team in Europe and back in Australia.
“At the start of the season, we didn’t know where we would stack up, but to know we can now mix it with the best juniors in the world fills us with confidence as we move forward.”
After reflecting on their 2024 season with their team, both Gill and Brkic will return to Australia, before heading back overseas to continue their progression in 2025.
The FIA Rally Star program has served them well over the past two seasons, and continuing with the team is a real possibility for 2025.
“The team will be evaluating the season and choosing drivers to continue with the program in 2025,” Gill added.
“We are hoping that we have shown enough promise for it to be us as part of the team next season.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the FIA and all their supporters in making such a program possible. For myself, Romet, Jose (Caparo) and Max (Smart), the opportunities we’ve been afforded are beyond our wildest dreams.
“If selected for next year, we’ll be working harder than ever to achieve our goals.”
A decision on whether Gill and Brkic will be a part of the 2025 FIA Rally Star program is expected in the coming months.
